Dedicated to cicadas, the most amazing insects in the world.
This is a web version of this old PDF.
There is an “old wives tale” that says that if you see a “W” on a cicada’s wing that there will be war, and if you see a “P” there will be peace. What you see is in the eyes of the “bugholder”, but I’ve personally only seen a “W”, which almost seems logical, because there is always a war going on somewhere.
Cicadas are a favorite food of fish, so anglers use lures that emulate cicadas. When there is a large emergence aka “hatch” of cicadas, it can drive the fish into a feeding frenzy, which anglers take advantage of.
There’s a new book called Cicada Madness by author Dave Zielinski that focuses on “timing, fishing techniques, and patterns for cracking the code of epic emergences”. The book features images by myself, Roy Troutman, and others. The book is 164 pages long and features 39 pages of fly patterns.
CGWiber of the Dutch John Resort of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah, sent us these cicada photos. CGWiber enjoys fly fishing and “matching the hatch”, which means using fly fishing lures that match the characteristics of cicadas. Cicadas are a favorite food of game fish like trout. They can have years of great abundance. You’ll find them near water because there is more vegetation near water, which is why fish get ahold of them.
Okanagana cicada. It looks like Okanagana magnifica, but I’m not sure.
Okanagana cicada. Looks like Okanagana magnifica. It is about the length of two human phalanges:
Platypedia cicada.
Platypedia cicada. See how tiny they can be? Smaller than one human phalanx.
Okanagana and Platypedia are visually similar.
With few exceptions, both cicadas are primarily black with orange or beige highlights, both can be “hairy”, and both are common west of the Mississippi.
Platypedia tend to be smaller than Okanagana, many have a line down their pronotum, and they make sound by clapping their wings against their bodies. Okanagana make sound by vibrating their tymbals.
Thanks to cicada researcher Jeff Cole, Ph.D., for this tip: “From the side with the wings folded Platypedia have the node on the forewing way out towards the apex, while Okanagana and Tibicinoides will have the node located more or less in the middle of the wing.”
Use of AI image software like DALL-E 3 is exploding. I used Bing’s version of DALL-E 3 called Bing Image Creator to create some images of cicadas. I am impressed. And maybe a little bit worried for artists and designers.
AI created Lego Cicada
AI Cicada Eating Pizza (cicadas do not eat pizza)
AI Cicada Halloween Party
AI Cicadas in Space in the style of a 1980s neon poster
AI Cicada statue
I collect anything related to cicadas. Over the past few years I came across two Instagram accounts dedicated to creating soft vinyl action figures called sofubi: jigokunoraida and Joe Serpico. One of the sofubi they specialize in is the SEMI RAIDA ROAD WARRIOR, which is a cicada-human biker hybrid. I was very lucky to obtain my own SEMI RAIDA ROAD WARRIOR during their latest lottery.
Here’s a photo of the ROAD WARRIOR holding one of his cicada minions (a Neotibicen tibicen tibicen). If you nice he has an iridescent appearance.
This is part two of my search for unusual cicada merchandise. Here’s part 1.
These I found on eBay, so they might be gone by the time you read this. I might have bought them all.
This is a model of a molting Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata aka aburazemi cicada. Very nice!
This is an action figure of Cicada Man aka Semi-Ningen from the Japanese TV show Ultraman. I own a green, orange and brown version of this. The price of the current eBay auction is good! I’ve paid close to $100 for Cicada Man in the past.
This is a model of a cicada nymph. Looks like it comes with the original box. Nice!
I own one of these. It’s amazing! The bobblehead celebrates the 2004 emergence of Brood X, I believe in the Cincinnati area.
This is another impressive model of an actual cicada: Himeharu-Zemi (aka Euterpnosia chibensis).
This one is neato. It’s a model of a cicada with its own enclosure. It also lights up and makes a sound. I might have to buy it.
Search online auctions and marketplaces like eBay or Aliexpress and you’ll find many cicada products, but mostly fishing lures, jade carvings, jewelry, and cicada specimens from Southeast Asia. That’s fine, but what if you want something different, rare, or unusual?
I’ve been looking for unusual cicada merch all week long. Here’s what I found:
Wow! When I win the lottery, I’m getting this. A massive robotic cicada.
Visit the website where it is sold: Adventure Park Display Big Bugs Cicadidae Animatronic Insects Animal Insect Statue Customize.
Amazing! Another giant cicada for my robot cicada army.
Visit the website where it is sold: Insect Museum Specimen Animal Model Simulation Cicada.
Wonderful! More robotic cicadas for my… cicada air force.
Visit the website where it is sold: Blue Lizard Amusement Park Decoration Artificial Animatronic Insects Cicada Model.
You assemble the parts and you have something that looks like a cicada but is also a work of art and an electronic kit project.
Visit the website where it is sold: Wholesale Educational Toys For Kids Adults Handmade Chirping Insects Light Up Toys Handmade Diy Kit Electronic Cicada.
This item might be the most unsual. I never imagined replacing a keyboard key with a custom key.
Visit the website where it is sold: ZOMO PLUS Fantastic Beasts Series – Golden Cicada Translucent Aluminum Artisan Keycap Mechanical Keyboard Keycap.
Back in the 2000’s I purchased this Halloween decoration that uses cicada sounds (Magicicada septendecim Court #2, I think) to create a spooky audio vibe. It’s a dark cloud with spiders hanging from it. Press a button and the whole thing shakes, green lights illuminate the spiders, and cicada sounds play. Gemmy.com made it, but I got it from Target.
Who knew Spirit Halloween stores (yes, in America we have large stores dedicated to Halloween costumes and party supplies) had Cicada Costumes!?
(yes, this is a meme, sorry to say)
Wow! Spirit Halloween Stores have a costume for everyone! #cicadas #SpiritHallowmeme pic.twitter.com/gPk8m2Bkza
— Cicada Mania (@cicadamania) October 29, 2022
Platypleura arabica, the Arabian Cicada, stamp from the State of Qatar:
